Hand cart



Nov. 26, 1963 E. LESHNER 3,112,042

HAND CART Filed May 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IFIG.2

INVENTOR. ERVIN LESHNER AT TORNEYS- E- LESHNER Nov. 26, 1963 HAND CART 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1961 FIG-3.5

FIG.6

INVENTOR. ERVIN L ESHNER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,112,042 HANDCART Ervin Leshner, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to Falco Products Co.,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 19, 196i,Ser. No. 111,236 2 Claims. (U. 214511) This invention relates generallyto a hand cart and, more particularly, to a hand cart that is easilyfolded for storage and that has other novel features to facilitate itsuse.

Hand carts are in common usage for moving items that are too heavy orbulky to carry. They find common usage in hotels for moving luggage andin industry for moving barrels. The present invention is an improvementin such a hand cart.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved hand cart.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hand cart that isreadily collapsible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hand cart thatincludes a pushing means for removing items placed on the cart.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a hooking meansfor securing barrels or other items on the cart.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a hand cartcomprising a U-shaped handle, a U-shaped base pivotally secured to thehandle, a pair of wheels rotatively secured to the base, and a pivotablepushing means with hooking means operatively associated with saidhandle.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand cart of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the cart of FIG. 1 in itsfolded condition;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the brace joiningthe handle to the base, taken generally rearwardly thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 4, withcertain parts shown in perspective for clarity.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingswherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a hand cartembodying the present invention is generally shown at It) in FIG. 1.Device It basically comprises a generally U-shaped base 12 having legs14 and 16 and bridging section 18. The base is made from tubular metal,such as steel or aluminum. The open ends of tubular legs 14 and 16 arecapped with rounded rubber plugs 29.

Rotatively secured between legs 14 and 16 is roller 39 mounted on axle32 secured in said legs. Roller 30 is of a larger diameter than legs 14and 16 and, as shown in FIG. 4, extends both below and above the legs 14and 16. Secured to legs 14 and 16 near the open end of U-shaped base 12is a shaft 34. Wheels 36, having associated washers 3S and securing caps40, are rotatively mounted on axle 34. It is to be noted that in use,base 12 will be inclined forwardly because wheels 36 are of a largerdiameter than roller 30, which may be dispensed with in someapplications. The handle, however, should be either generally verticallydisposed or inclined slightly rearwardly.

Pivotally secured to legs 14 and 16 by pins 44 (FIG. 3) are braces 46.The lower portion 48 of braces 46 is semi-cylindrically shaped toconform to the upper contour of legs 14 and 16. Fixedly secured to theupper portion of braces 46 by rivets 50 are vertical tubular legs 52which terminate in handle 62. Braces 46 also have a semi-cylindricalupper portion 56 to conform to the contour of legs 52. Upper portion 56is extended downwardly to define a hollow portion 60 for receiving legs14 and 16 of base 12 when the cart is in its folded condition.

Secured to the upper ends of legs 52 is tubular handle 62. Handle 62 isgenerally U-shaped, with lower portions 64 of legs 66 having narrow ends65 which frictionally telescope in legs 52 (FIG. 7). The upper portionsof legs 66 are, however, inclined from the vertical as shown in FIG. 4.Bridging section 63 connects the upper portions of legs 66.

A horizontal cross-bar 70 is connected to the upper portions of legs 52.Angle brackets 72 (FIG. 6) are welded to bar 70 at its center. Agenerally vertical tube or shaft 74 is pivotally secured between anglebrackets 72 by pin 76. Secured to the lower end of tube 74 is a flatrectangular plate 78. A second horizontal cross-bar 86 is connected tothe lower portions of legs 52. Bar is bent back at its midpoint, so asto provide a recess for receiving the hanging tube 74. The top of tube74 is provided with a cylindrical handle 32. This handle is preferablymade of rubber, and has a knurled surface to provide an easier grip.Slidingly and frictionally engaging tube 74 is a sleeve 94) havingincliningly depending finger 92 riveted thereto. The top part of thefinger is flush with sleeve hit at the rivet point, with the lower partbeing angled outwardly to function as hooking means as will be discussedhereinafter.

In operation, the items to be moved are placed on base 12. The cart isthen tilted backwardly in the direction of arrow 94 (FIG. 4). The cartis then moved to the desired place on wheels 36. When the desiredlocation is reached, handle 82 is pulled in the direction of arrow 96,which causes plate 78 to move in the direction of arrow 98. The platethen pushes the items off the cart, and avoids the necessity of liftingthem off, as with other carts. Roller 30 aids in the sliding of thepackages off the cart, but is not required. Roller 36 further serves thefunction of supporting base 12 when packages are being loaded on thecart.

Sleeve 90, with its dependent finger 92, constitutes hook means to beused when barrels are loaded on the cart. After a barrel is placed in anupright position on the base, sleeve 98 is slid down tube 74 untilfinger 92 engages the lip of the barrel. Sleeve W may be held in a givenposition either by frictional engagement or by other means such as a setscrew arrangement. This holds the barrel securely in place and obviatesthe necessity of the worker holding the barrel.

Another feature of the invention is the foldability of the cart. Whenthe cart is not in use, base 12 is pivoted ninety degrees in acounterclockwise direction about pin 44 (as viewed in FIG. 1) until legs12 and 14 are engaged in recesses 69 of brackets 46. This lifts wheels36 off the ground (FIG. 2), and the cart then rests on the ends 20, suchas rubber or plastic plugs, of legs 14 and 16. The cart is now preventedfrom rolling away. As shown in PEG. 2, the cart is very compact in itsfolded condition, and can easily be stored in any convenient location.

it is to be additionally noted that a barrel or can may be simplyloadedupon the cart of the present invention and easily latched byfinger 92. This is accomplished by placing the barrel on base 12. Thehandle is then tilted forwardly so that finger 92 latches about theupper edge of the peripheral wall of the barrel. The handle is thenpulled back to its initial position, and in so doing carries the latchedbarrel with it. Thus, the latched barrel is now held against the handleand accordingly the cart is now loaded and may be moved where desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A hand cart comprising a handle and a generally U-shaped tubularbase, said U-shaped base including a pair of parallel leg members and anintegral bridging section being forward of said handle, wheels rotatablymounted on said base near its rearward, open end, said handle includinga pair of tubular parallel legs, one each of said legs being pivotallymounted on one leg of said U-shapcd base, a generally U-shaped memberhaving legs frictionally telescoped in the upstanding tubular legs ofsaid handle, a shaft pivotally associated with said handle, a sleeveslidably mounted on said shaft, said sleeve hav- 4 ing a dependentarticle-engaging finger, and a plate mounted on the lower end of saidshaft, whereby articles placed on said cart can be removed by thepivoting of said shaft to force said plate against said articles.

2. The hand cart of claim 1 and further including a resilient plugplaced in the open end of each leg of said tubular base, whereby saidtubular base can be pivoted against the legs of said handle for uprightstorage and said resilient plugs will engage the floor on which saidcart is stored thereby preventing any sliding of said cart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS528,443 Randall Oct. 30, 1894 2,212,053 Smith Aug. 20, 1940 2,277,302Chenette Mar. 24, 1942 2,476,202 Lozon July 12, 1949 2,564,248 ChenetteAug. 14, 1951 2,682,348 Sturnphauzer June 29, 1954 2,721,085 Powell Oct.18, 1955 2,780,375 Marcusson Feb. 5, 1957 2,838,193 Statton June 10,1958

1. A HAND CART COMPRISING A HANDLE AND A GENERALLY U-SHAPED TUBULARBASE, SAID U-SHAPED BASE INCLUDING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LEG MEMBERS AND ANINTEGRAL BRIDGING SECTION BEING FORWARD OF SAID HANDLE, WHEELS ROTATABLYMOUNTED ON SAID BASE NEAR ITS REARWARD, OPEN END, SAID HANDLE INCLUDINGA PAIR OF TUBULAR PARALLEL LEGS, ONE EACH OF SAID LEGS BEING PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON ONE LEG OF SAID U-SHAPED BASE, A GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERHAVING LEGS FRICTIONALLY TELESCOPED IN THE UPSTANDING TUBULAR LEGS OFSAID HANDLE, A SHAFT PIVOTALLY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HANDLE, A SLEEVESLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, SAID SLEEVE HAVING A DEPENDENTARTICLE-ENGAGING FINGER, AND A PLATE MOUNTED ON THE LOWER END OF SAIDSHAFT, WHEREBY ARTICLES PLACED ON SAID CART CAN BE REMOVED BY THEPIVOTING OF SAID SHAFT TO FORCE SAID PLATE AGAINST SAID ARTICLES.